Lost opportunities for cross-Border co-operation on health could be putting lives at risk, a leading researcher claimed today.
Dr Patricia Clarke from the Centre for Cross-Border Studies said, with a funding crunch looming, a joined-up approach to health and a collaboration of resources should be a priority.
The lead researcher for a new research and development initiative commissioned by the EU, said better co-operation on the island of Ireland would increase patient care and improve health care efficiency.
Providing services for a combined 6.5 million people, the health sector commands the largest allocation of public funding on both sides of the Border - with current annual budgets of €16.2 billion in the Republic and £4.8 billion in the North.
Dr Clarke said: “There is clear evidence that increased collaboration can reduce wastage and deliver a significant improvement to the provision of health care across the island of Ireland."
“Patients stand to benefit from the exchange of expertise, better access to acute services as well as reduced response times for emergencies, particularly in those Border areas," she said.
“Combining resources, experiences and best practice to tackle key issues makes financial sense and will be to the ultimate benefit of all citizens on the island.
“Too often hospital planning is focused on bureaucratic and financial objectives rather than the needs of patients. This research will help identify key issues of concern for future policy consideration," Dr Clarke said.
A combination of five projects being undertaken by the Centre for Cross-Border Studies, the research programme will deliver a feasibility study of planned hospital services in the Border region on a cross-Border basis.
PA